Method, system and apparatus for organizing and interacting with email on mobile devices

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of the present invention include systems and methods managing email on a user device. A first plurality of email tiles in a first vertical list may be displayed on a screen of the user device. The first plurality of email tiles in the first vertical list may be associated with a first time period. A motion-based gesture may be detected. The motion-based gesture may include at least one of a tap on a surface of the screen, a swipe across a surface of the screen, or an acceleration of the user device. In an embodiment, in response to detecting a first motion-based gesture, a second plurality of email tiles in a second vertical list associated with a second time period may be displayed. In an embodiment, in response to detecting a second motion-based gesture, one or more email management function may be performed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationSer. No. 62/210,922, filed Aug. 27, 2015, which is incorporated hereinby reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Various modes of Internet communication are experiencing fast-pacedgrowth and innovation. By contrast, the user's interaction with emailhas remained all confined to browsing chronologically sorted lists. Theuser experience in interacting with such email lists is not optimal,especially on mobile devices which typically have a form factor that isdifferent from that of a desktop or a laptop.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The technique relates to user device interfaces and more specifically tohorizontal timeline layouts for an email application, gesture basedorganization and triaging of emails in the email application, and aquantified, direct manipulation design for emails in the emailapplication.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The technology disclosed herein includes methods and systems formanaging email on a user device. In some embodiments, a plurality ofemail tiles may be included in a vertical list. A plurality of verticallists may be available to a user by gesture manipulation. The pluralityof vertical lists may be organized in a horizontal timeline interfacewith each column representing a time period, and the emails may bemanaged individually or in bulk by gesture manipulation.

Embodiments of the present invention include systems and methodsmanaging email on a user device. A first plurality of email tiles in afirst vertical list may be displayed on a screen of the user device. Thefirst plurality of email tiles in the first vertical list may beassociated with a first time period. A motion-based gesture may bedetected. The motion-based gesture may include at least one of a tap ona surface of the screen, a swipe across a surface of the screen, or anacceleration of the user device. In an embodiment, in response todetecting a first motion-based gesture, a second plurality of emailtiles in a second vertical list associated with a second time period maybe displayed. In an embodiment, in response to detecting a secondmotion-based gesture, one or more email management function may beperformed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects, features, and characteristics may become moreapparent to those skilled in the art from a study of the followingDetailed Description in conjunction with the appended claims anddrawings, all of which form a part of this specification. While theaccompanying drawings include illustrations of various embodiments, thedrawings are not intended to limit the claimed subject matter.

FIG. 1 shows the horizontal timeline interface, according to oneembodiment;

FIGS. 2A-2D show the ability to rearrange the index and visual order ofemails within a single time period so a user may prioritize the emailsaccording to importance for the user, according to one embodiment;

FIGS. 3A-3E show the ability to pick up email tiles individually forsorting into one of the interface's one or more triage corners,according to one embodiment;

FIGS. 4A-4F show the ability to select and pick up multiple email tilesat once for sorting into one of the interface's one or more triagecorners, according to one embodiment;

FIGS. 5A-5E show how the horizontal timeline interface may be navigatedby user's left or right wrist movement, according to one embodiment;

FIGS. 6A-6F show how the email tiles may be tossed to the top with aforward wrist motion after they are selected, according to oneembodiment;

FIG. 7 shows how automatically generated emails are represented visuallydifferent from the emails received from human senders, according to oneembodiment;

FIG. 8 shows how users may use forward or backward wrist flicks tonavigate to older and newer emails in the system detail view, accordingto one embodiment;

FIGS. 9A-9B show how the system timeline and the user's email quantityby time period is displayed in a histogram, according to one embodiment;

FIGS. 10A-10F show the transition between a horizontal interface and avertical interface of emails, according to one embodiment;

FIG. 11 shows the system providing and/or removing a keyboard inresponse to a motion-based gesture, according to one embodiment;

FIG. 12 shows the undo feature, according to one embodiment;

FIG. 13 shows a “fishing pole” gesture to display an oldest or morerecent time period, according to one embodiment;

FIGS. 14-15 show how an image preview and/or a document preview and/oran audio or video content preview may be surfaced in a main interfacewithout having to open an email, according to one embodiment;

FIG. 16 shows a popup for contact information which may allow a promptcommunication to another user, according to one embodiment;

FIGS. 17A-17B show a view emails from a sender feature and a viewattachments from a sender feature, respectively, according to oneembodiment;

FIG. 18 is an illustration of a horizontal timeline, according to oneembodiment;

FIG. 19 is an illustration of sorting a plurality of email messages intoone or more triage corners, according to one embodiment;

FIG. 20 is an illustration of the optical character recognition,according to one embodiment;

FIG. 21 is an illustration of displaying emails with different visualrepresentations for emails received from senders determined byheuristics to have been sent by human senders and emails determined tohave been automatically generated, according to one embodiment;

FIG. 22 is an illustration of displaying favorite email contacts,according to one embodiment;

FIG. 23 is an illustration of a motion-based gesture, such as tilting,for browsing through emails, according to one embodiment.

FIGS. 24-25 are an illustrations of a gesture for organizing emails,according to one embodiment;

FIG. 26 is an illustration of adding text or notes to an image,according to one embodiment;

FIG. 27 is an illustration of customizing the hot corners, according toone embodiment;

FIG. 28 is an illustration of the system main user interface, accordingto one embodiment;

FIG. 29 is an illustration of the system user interface for reading anemail, according to one embodiment;

FIG. 30 is an illustration of the system user interface for composing anemail, according to one embodiment;

FIG. 31 is a block diagram of a computer system as may be used toimplement certain features of some of the embodiments.

FIG. 32 is a block diagram illustrating an abstracted architecture ofthe system, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 33 is a block diagram illustrating an abstracted architecture ofthe system, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 34 is a block diagram illustrating a method for managing a taskqueue, according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

Discussed below are examples of a method, system and apparatus fororganizing and interacting with email on a user device. In the followingdescription, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific detailsare set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of theembodiments of the invention. One skilled in the art may recognize thatthe embodiments of the invention may be practiced without these specificdetails or with an equivalent arrangement. In other instances,well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form inorder to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 1 shows the horizontal timeline interface 107, according to oneembodiment. A user device, such as a phone, enables a user to manage hisemail using the system disclosed here. The system displays a histogramof the email associated with the user, e.g., histogram 102 or histogram907 of FIG. 9. In one embodiment, the histogram 102, 907 shows thenumber of emails the user receives in a time period (e.g., an hour, day,week, month, etc.). In another embodiment, the histogram shows thenumber of important emails the user receives in a time period. Thesystem may define the criteria for categorizing an email as import.Additionally or alternatively, the system may allow the user to definethe criteria or customize the criteria. In another embodiment, thehistogram 102, 907 may represent the number of files in differentfolders. If the system receives a zooming out gesture, such as twofingers moving toward each other, the system displays emails received inother time periods. The histogram 102, 907 enables the user to select aparticular time period, and the selected time period is marked, such asby darker shading than the unselected time periods. If the user isviewing emails received on a plurality of time periods, all of the timeperiods viewed may be marked, such as by darker shading than theunselected time periods.

Below the histogram 102, 907, the system displays a list of email tilesreceived on a particular time period and the total number of emailsreceived on that time period 105. A time period may include a timeperiod indicator (e.g., time period indicator 108 stating that the timeperiod is “Thursday, March 9”). Email tiles of the list of email tilesmay include an image associated with the sender 106, the name of thesender 103, and the title of the email 104. If a user selects adifferent time period in the histogram, the system displays the emailreceived on the selected time period. According to one embodiment, thesystem receives a touchscreen input from the user selecting a particulartime period in the histogram. According to another embodiment, thesystem receives a motion-based gesture from the user, and based on themotion-based gesture, the system scrolls to a time period behind or atime period ahead. According to one embodiment, the motion-based gesturemay be rotating the phone to the right to scroll back, or rotating thephone to the left to scroll forward.

FIGS. 2A-2D show the ability to rearrange the index and visual order ofemails within a single time period so a user may personally prioritizethe emails that are most important for the user, according to oneembodiment. By default, the system may sort the email tiles inchronological order for each time period. The system may enable the userto re-arrange the email tiles received on a particular time period. Thesystem receives an input from the user, the input comprising an emailtile 202 or email tile 602 of FIG. 6 that the user would like to placein a different position. For example, the system receives an emailselection from the user, when the user long presses the email 202, 602on the screen 201. Without a lapse in contact with the screen 201, theuser may drag the email tile 202, 602 through the ordered list ofemails. Once the system receives a signal that the user has let go ofthe email (e.g., a lapse of contact with the screen 201), the systemplaces the selected email tile 202 into a new position. A group of emailtiles 203 may move down if the email tile 202 is moved up. FIG. 6,described below, is another example of gestures that may be used torearrange emails.

FIGS. 3A-3E show the ability to move email tiles individually forsorting into one or more of the interface's one or more triage corners,according to one embodiment. In an embodiment, moving email tiles mayinclude a three-dimensional visual effect of picking up an email tilefrom a first position (e.g., in line with a plurality of email tiles) tomove it to a second position (e.g., a screen corner). The systemreceives an email selection of an email tile 302 from the user, such asif the user long presses the email. The system receives a signal thatthe user wants to place the email tile 302 into one of the screencorners 303. For example, the system receives the signal if the user(e.g., a press and hold on a region of screen 301), without letting goof the email tile 302, drags the email to any of the screen corners 303.Once the system receives a signal that the user has let go of the email(e.g., the system detects a lapse of contact), the system performs theaction represented by the corner to which the user has dragged theemail. The corner functions may include, for example, delete an email,include the email in a folder, favorite the email, label the email,archive the email, add the email to a to-do list, marking the email asread, reply to the email, forward the email, save attachment in theemail, or any combination thereof. In an embodiment, a user maycustomize corner function by, for example, selecting corner functionfrom a dropdown list of corner functions.

FIGS. 4A-4F show the ability to select and move multiple email tiles atonce for sorting into one of the interface's one or more triage corners,according to one embodiment. In an embodiment, moving multiple emailtiles may include a visual effect appearing to three-dimensionally pickup the email tiles from a first position and move them to a secondposition. The system may receive a plurality of email tiles 403 from theuser. For example, if the system receives a signal that the user haspressed and let go of an email (e.g., contact with a region of thescreen 401 associated with the email tiles 403 followed by a lapse ofcontact), the system labels the email as a selected email. The systemmay receive multiple email selections 403. The system receives a signalthat the user wants to place the plurality of email selections 403 intoone of the screen corners 303. According to one embodiment, the systemreceives the signal if the user drags his finger across the screentowards the desired screen corner. The system may remove the selectedemails from the display (e.g., causing a plurality of gaps 406), andrearrange the display to close the gaps left by removed emails.

FIGS. 5A-5E show the histogram interface 501 responding to motion inputs(e.g., from a user's left or right wrist movement), according to oneembodiment. Identifying motion inputs by utilizing various motiontechnologies is contemplated. The histogram interface 501 may include aplurality of time periods 503 and time periods may include time periodindicator (e.g., indicator 502 stating “Thursday, March 9”). A motioninput may be detected by any motion detection technology, such as, forexample, an accelerometer, gyroscope, camera, compass, globalpositioning system, a plurality of motion sensors, or any combination ofmotion detection technology. Embodiments include the motion detectiontechnology being located within a user device (e.g., a mobile telephone)with which a user may interact. Embodiments include the motion detectiontechnology being located in a separate device (e.g., an external cameradetecting motion of the user). Various motion technologies arecontemplated, and any discussion of a particular motion detectiontechnology should not be construed as limiting.

In an embodiment, the system may detect a motion input (e.g., via anaccelerometer, gyroscope, and/or other motion detection technology) andprovide a second view in response to receiving the motion input. Forexample, the system may detect a user moving a user device (e.g., amobile device) and enable the user to navigate the histogram interfacebased on pre-defined motions. The system may browse the histogram 102,907 upon receiving a motion-based gestures from the user. According toone embodiment, if the user rotates the device to the user's left (i.e.counterclockwise if viewing the bottom of the mobile device), fromposition 504 to position 506, the system displays the previous timeperiod's email 508; if the user rotates the device to the user's right(i.e. clockwise if viewing the bottom of the mobile device), fromposition 509 to position 511 the system displays the next time period'semail.

FIGS. 6A-6B show how the email tiles displayed in screen 601 may betossed to the top with a forward wrist motion after they are selected,according to one embodiment. The system receives an input from the user,the input comprising an email tile 202, 602 that the user would like toplace in a different position. For example, the system receives an emailselection from the user, if the user presses the email tile 202, 602.The system may move the email to the top of the list upon receiving amotion-based gesture from the user. According to one embodiment, themotion-based gesture comprises tilting the device forward away from theuser. Once the system receives a signal that the user has tilted thedevice, the system places the selected email tile 602 into a newposition. A group of email tiles 606 may move down if the email tile 602is moved up.

FIG. 7 shows how automatically generated emails are represented visuallydifferent than the emails received from human senders, according to oneembodiment. For example, an automatically generated email may berepresented as a standard email 701 or as a bot email 702. The bot email702 may include a symbol representing a bot (e.g., a symbol of a head ofa robot). The symbol representing a bot may indicate to a user that theemail is automatically generated to help distinguish automaticallygenerated emails from emails prepared by a human sender. The system maybe configured to display automatically generated emails (e.g., bot email702), such as emails generated by machines or by an applicationexecuting on the machine (referred to as a “robot”), in an alternateview (e.g., a view other than chronologically in an email list 704). Analternate position for an automatically generated email may include, forexample, a bottom of the list of daily emails, hidden from the list, orhidden from the histogram 102, 907 count.

In an embodiment, one or more automatically generated emails identifiedby the system can be removed from the main user interface viewtemporarily or permanently by a tap on the front or back of the mobiledevice. This tap creates a visual representation within the userinterface where the automatically generated non-human sender emails are,in an animated fashion, visually knocked forward and fall down out oftheir respective columns offscreen.

FIG. 8 shows how users may use forward or backward wrist flicks tonavigate from a current email 809 to an older email 811 and newer email810 in the system detail view, according to one embodiment. The systemenables the user to browse through the emails using gestures (e.g.,gesture 813). In an embodiment, the system may detect tilting 813 of auser device, and in response to detecting tilting of the user device,the system may display a subsequent (e.g., newer email 810) or previousemail (e.g., older email 811). According to one embodiment, if thesystem is displaying an email (e.g., including text 802 and/or images ofthe email), and the system receives a gesture tilting the phone forward(e.g., gesture 813), the system may display the following email (e.g.,newer email 810); if the system receives a gesture tilting the phonebackwards, the system may display the previous email (e.g., older email811). An order of emails may be based on, for example, an orderindicated by a user (e.g., by a user rearranging emails user gestors), achronological order of emails, an order altered by the system (e.g., inresponse to detecting an automated email), or a combination thereof(e.g., a partially chronological list of emails with some emails havingan order altered by the system and some rearranged by a user).

FIGS. 9A-9B show how the system timeline and the users email quantity bytime period is displayed in a histogram 901, according to oneembodiment. The histogram 901 may be displayed along the top of theinterface which may be used to scroll from one time frame to another(e.g., from a list of emails associated with a first time period to alist of emails associated with a second time period). In addition, auser may scroll across the histogram to view contacts 902 (e.g., veryimportant person “VIP” contacts or favorite contacts), forward emails,open all emails from a VIP contact, start a fast email to one of auser's most frequent personally selected VIP contacts, or anycombination thereof. VIP contacts may be, for example, selected by auser, identified as frequent contacts by the system, or a combinationthereof. The histogram 102, 907 marks the selected time period 906, forwhich the list of emails is displayed on the device 908. The selectedtime period 906 may be distinguished from other time periods byincluding, for example, a shade darker than other time periods, a colordifferent than other time periods, a texture different than other timeperiods, or any combination thereof. The system may receive a gesturefrom the user to scroll through the histogram 102, 907. According to oneembodiment, the gesture comprises tilting the phone to the left or tothe right to scroll backwards or forwards, respectively. According toanother embodiment, the user may select a date to display by pressing onthe histogram 102, 907 representing the email count for that timeperiod. According to another embodiment, the user may drag his fingeracross the histogram 102, 907 thereby scrolling through emails receivedon different time periods. For example, a user may be in contact with adisplay of a user device associated with a region of the selected timeperiod 906 and the user device may display emails received on a timeperiod associated with the selected time period 906 (e.g., as displayedon user device 908). In another example, a user may be in contact with adisplay of a user device associated with a region of the selected timeperiod 910 of the histogram 909 and the user device may display emailsreceived on a time period associated with the selected time period 910(e.g., as displayed on user device 911). In another example, a user maybe in contact with a display of a user device associated with a regionof the selected time period 913 of the histogram 912 and the user devicemay display emails received on a time period associated with theselected time period 913 (e.g., as displayed on user device 914).

FIGS. 10A-10F show the transition between a horizontal interface and avertical interface of emails for a user device 1001, according to oneembodiment. The horizontal interface displays emails associated with atime period (e.g., an hour, day, week, month, etc.) arrangedhorizontally so that emails associated with a single time frame aredisplayed on a user device and emails associated with one or more othertime frames are accessible by gesturing left or right (e.g., swipingleft or right, tilting left or right, etc.). The vertical interfacedisplays all the emails in a vertical list so that emails associatedwith a plurality of time frames may be accessible by gesturing up ordown (e.g., swiping up or down, tilting up or down, etc.). Thehorizontal interface may transform into a vertical interface; and thevertical interface may transform into a horizontal interface. Forexample, a user may select a first group of emails associated with afirst time frame (e.g., by pressing and holding the screen of a userdevice) and drag the first group of emails associated with the firsttime frame to a second group of emails associated with a second timeframe. The first group may be dragged above, below, or onto the secondgroup. The system may respond to a user selecting and dragging the firstgroup to the second group by presenting the first group and second groupas a single vertical list.

FIG. 11 shows the system providing and/or removing a keyboard inresponse to a motion-based gesture, according to one embodiment. In anembodiment, the system may provide a virtual keyboard on an interface ofa user device in response to detecting a motion-based gesture. Forexample, if a user holding the user device motions a wrist forward awayfrom their body while viewing an interface for composing, replying to,or forwarding email, the keyboard for the user device visible to useronscreen may be displayed with an animation and focus of the cursor maybe put into the first blank field starting from the top. The animationmay include the keyboard scrolling into view from a bottom of thescreen. In another example, if a user holding the user device motions awrist back towards their body in a gesture while viewing an interfacefor composing, replying to, or forwarding email, the keyboard for theuser device visible to user onscreen may be hidden with an animation.The animation may include the keyboard scrolling down out of view of thescreen.

FIG. 12 shows an undo feature, according to one embodiment. In anembodiment, the system may include an undo feature to reverse one ormore email management features. For example, a user may pick upindividual emails or multiple emails and toss them to a corner to label,archive, delete, move, or take another action. The system may track theemail management features utilized. The user may provide an input forthe undo feature by, for example, selecting an undo icon or providing amotion-based gesture (e.g., shaking the user device). Undoing an actionmay apply to a last email management feature or a plurality of prioremail management features performed by the system. A user may utilizethe undo feature to correct mistakes including, for example,reclassifying emails to a new location or leaving emails in theiroriginal position within the main interface.

FIG. 13 shows a “fishing pole” gesture action to end or being atimeframe, according to one embodiment. In an embodiment, the ability ofa user to move not just by individual time periods but to move theirhorizontal timeline interface to the end or beginning of the time periodrepresented by the histogram. In a diagonal motion gesture where theuser moves his wrist forward and to the right or left as detected by themotion sensors, the user interface is animated and shifts to either thebeginning or end of the current email columns represented by thetimeline based on the direction being oriented more to the right or leftat the ending point of the user hand movement.

FIGS. 14-15 show how image and document previews are surfaced in maininterface without having to open an email, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 14 shows the ability of a user to see a preview visualization ofone or more document and image previews within the main interfacewithout first opening an email first. The preview visualization can alsobe interacted with through a gesture touch on the screen to open a fullsize of the attachment in question, whether it is an image, a pdf, aword document, or any other file type. This surfacing of attachmentcontent is a unique way for users to get access to potentially importantvisual information or documents more directly from within an email or todetermine which emails might be of most interest for interacting withfirst.

FIG. 15 shows the ability of the user to see a preview visualization ofother media parsed out of links within the body of an email in thisexample showing a YouTube® video which can be interacted with and openeddirectly without opening the email and tapping any additional links.This surfacing of media content is a unique way for users to get accessto potentially important or entertaining information more directly fromwithin an email or to determine which emails might be of most interestfor interacting with first.

FIG. 16 shows a popup for contact information which may allow a prompttext message or call, according to one embodiment. In an embodiment, theability of users to quickly get to the contact details for allrecipients and/or senders of an email thread and to initiate a mobilephone call or text message from directly within the application.

FIGS. 17A-17B show a view emails from a sender feature and a viewattachments from a sender feature, respectively, according to anembodiment. In an embodiment, the view emails from the sender featuremay be provided if a user selects a particular sender. The system mayallow the user to see the emails on a timeline interface with eachcolumn representing a specific time period or may allow the user to seethem in single vertical chronological list. For example, if a userselects a favorite user, emails sent from the favorite user may beprovided in the horizontal timeline. In another example, if a userselects a sender of an email (e.g., the sender “Erik Lucas” visible inscreen 1702), the system may generate and provide a horizontal timelineof emails from the sender (e.g., the horizontal timeline 1704).

In an embodiment, the view attachments from the sender feature may beprovided if a user selects a particular sender. The system may allow theuser to browse, reorganize, and filter by attachment type if desired.For example, if a user selects a favorite user, attachments included inemails sent from the favorite user may be provided in the horizontaltimeline. In another example, if a user selects a sender of an email theuser is viewing, the system may generate and provide a attachmentsincluded in emails from the sender. The user may have the ability toselect with either gestures or touch screen interactions whichattachments they would like to view in full format and then have thatfile displayed. Users may be able to edit a document and reply with anedited or version and also may forward or send the email to anothercontact or contacts. Examples of some files types which a user will seefrom contacts with the all attachments from sender feature are MS Worddocuments, PDFs, MS Excel files, Video Files with screencap preview,Text files, Html files, Images, Icons, MS Powerpoint, etc.

FIG. 18 is an illustration of the horizontal timeline interface,according to one embodiment. The horizontal timeline interface is anexample of a horizontal timeline interface as described with referenceto FIGS. 2A-2D.

FIG. 19 is an illustration of sorting a plurality of email tiles intoany of four triage corners, according to one embodiment. Although fourtriage corners are illustrated, embodiments include having no triagecorners, having one triage corner, and having more than one triagecorner. The triage corners may function, for example, as described withreference to FIGS. 3A-3E.

FIG. 20 is an illustration of the optical character recognition,according to one embodiment. The system receives a handwritten textinput, such as alphanumeric characters, from the user. According to oneembodiment, the user may input the text with a finger. The system mayconvert the hand writing into a typed message. In an embodiment, thesystem may analyze the handwritten message by identifying segments ofinputs and determine a correlation between the identified segments andalphanumeric characters. An input segment may be, for example, a portionof an input physically separated from other portions of an input (e.g.,a space exists between the portion and other portions), a portion of aninput temporally separated from other portions of an input (e.g., theportion is input in a first time period and other portions are input ina second time period), or a combination thereof. Identified inputsegments may be analyzed by utilizing, for example, a matching algorithmto determine a correspondence between, for example, a first inputsegment and a first alphanumeric character (e.g., the letter “e”). Analphanumeric character having a greatest determined correlation may beincluded in an email as text.

FIG. 21 is an illustration of displaying emails based on priority,according to one embodiment. According to one embodiment, the systemprioritizes email based on a sender type, such as whether the sender isassociated with a person or a robot. The system may automatically detectwhether the sender is a person, or whether the message is automaticallygenerated. The system may associate a distinctive image with themessages that are automatically generated. According to one embodiment,the image representing a robot head may be included in emails associatedwith emails being automatically generated. The user may identify whichemail messages are automatically generated based on a provided image(e.g., the robot head), and therefore identify the email as lowerpriority. According to another embodiment, the system may automaticallydisplay the lower priority messages at the bottom of the list of dailyemails, or the system may omit the lower priority messages from the listof daily emails. In addition, the system may exclude the number of lowerpriority messages from the histogram count.

FIG. 22 is an illustration of displaying favorite email contacts,according to one embodiment. If a user is composing an email and beforethe user enters the email address associated with a recipient, thesystem displays a list of images associated with the user's frequentemail contacts. The system may receive a gesture-based input from theuser selecting an image associated with a user's frequent contact. Thegesture-based input may be, for example, pressing and dragging theselected image to the email field associated with the recipient address.In another example, if a pointer focus is within a to/cc/bcc field, thegesture-based input may be touching an icon photo of a favorite emailcontact causing the system to insert an email address associated withthe favorite email contact into the to/cc/bcc field. Once the systemreceives the gesture-based inputs from the user, the system assigns therecipient email address to be the email associated with the selectedimage.

FIG. 23 is an illustration of a motion-based gesture, such as tilting,for browsing through emails, according to one embodiment. The systemreceives a gesture-based input from the user, and based on that inputscroll forward or backward through the list of emails. For example, thegesture may be tilting the device forward to scroll forward; or tiltingthe device backward to scroll backward through the list of emails.

FIGS. 24-25 are an illustration of a gesture for organizing emails,according to one embodiment. The system receives an email selection fromthe user, such as if the user presses on an email message. The systemreceives a gesture-based input from the user, placing the email into oneof the screen corners associated with the device. The gesture mayinclude the user dragging the selected email to one of the screencorners, or the user tilting the device towards one of the screencorners. Once the system receives the input, the system performs thefunction associated with the icon displayed in the selected screencorner. The function performed may include, for example, deleting anemail, including the email in a folder, favoriting the email, labelingthe email, archiving the email, adding the email to a to-do list,marking the email as read, replying to the email, forwarding the email,saving an attachment in the email, or other email actions.

According to another embodiment, the gesture-based input from the userfor organizing emails may include sliding the entire daily email list upon the device screen, in order to archive the entire daily email list.

FIG. 26 is an illustration of adding text or notes to an image and/ordocument, according to one embodiment. The system receives a typedinput, or a hand written input (such as a writing, or a scribble) fromthe user. The system also receives a selection of an image from theuser. The system associates the image and the typed or handwritteninput, and displays the image overlaid with the user notes. The systemstores the overlaid image or annotated document.

FIG. 27 is an illustration of customizing the hot corners, according toone embodiment. The system receives an input from the user associating aparticular folder, or a particular action with a screen corner. Theparticular folder may be an email folder, or a folder associated withthe device. The particular action may be reply to an email, reply all toan email, forward an email, save all attachments associated with anemail, or other email actions.

FIG. 28 is an illustration of the system main user interface, accordingto one embodiment. The system displays attachment previews in the dailyemail list. If the user selects an attachment preview, the systemdisplays the attachment without opening the email.

FIG. 29 is an illustration of the system user interface for reading anemail, according to one embodiment. If the system is displaying an emailfor reading, the system displays the email position in the daily emaillist on the screen, such as 11/15, meaning the displayed email is the11th email out of 15 emails received on that time period. The systemdisplays attachments so that the attachments fit on the device screen.The system receives gesture-based inputs from the user to organizeemail. For example, if the system receives a left wrist flick gesture,the system archives the email. If the system receives input comprisingthe user grabbing an email by the subject and dragging it to one of thescreen corners, the system performs the function associated with theselected screen corner.

FIG. 30 is an illustration of the system user interface for composing anemail, according to one embodiment. If the system is receiving an inputfrom the user for composing an email, the system may receivegesture-based inputs from the user to display a VIP contact, or todisplay recent photos. The VIP contact may be a frequent contact or acontact that the user places on the VIP contact list. For example, thesystem receives an input that the user has slid the screen from left tothe right, the system displays a list of images associated with theuser's frequent contacts. If the system receives an input that the userhas slid the screen from right to the left, the system displays a listof recent photos. If the system is receiving an input from the user forcomposing an email, the system displays several icons with correspondingfunctions: an icon for attaching photos associated with the device, anicon for adding photos associated with a cloud service such as iCloud®,Dropbox®, Google Drive®, an icon for quick handwriting conversion, etc.The system may receive a gesture-based input to allow the user toannotate an email photo attachment. For example, if the system receivesan input from the user consisting of tapping a photo attachment, thesystem displays the photo attachment, and allows the user to annotateit.

FIG. 31 is a block diagram of a computer system as may be used toimplement certain features of some of the embodiments. The computersystem may be any user device such as a mobile device, a tablet PC, apersonal digital assistant (PDA), a cellular telephone, an iPhone, aniPad, a Blackberry, a processor, a telephone, a web appliance, aconsole, a hand-held console, a (hand-held) gaming device, a musicplayer, any portable, mobile, hand-held device, wearable device (e.g., awatch), or a machine equipped with motion detection technology (e.g., agyroscope, accelerometer, a plurality of motion sensors, etc.) andcapable of executing a set of instructions (sequential or otherwise)that specify actions to be taken by that machine. In an embodiment, thecomputer system may be a virtual reality adaption of the systemdescribed herein. For example, a user's motions may be detected andcorrelated with a virtual representation of the interface describedherein provided to a user.

The computing system 3100 may include one or more central processingunits (“processors”) 3105, memory 3110, input/output devices 3125 (e.g.,keyboard and pointing devices, touch devices, display devices), storagedevices 3120 (e.g., disk drives), and network adapters 3130 (e.g.,network interfaces) that are connected to an interconnect 3115. Theinterconnect 3115 is illustrated as an abstraction that represents anyone or more separate physical buses, point to point connections, or bothconnected by appropriate bridges, adapters, or controllers. Theinterconnect 3115, therefore, may include, for example, a system bus, aPeripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus or PCI-Express bus, aHyperTransport or industry standard architecture (ISA) bus, a smallcomputer system interface (SCSI) bus, a universal serial bus (USB), IIC(12C) bus, or an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers(IEEE) standard 3194 bus, also called “Firewire”.

The memory 3110 and storage devices 3120 arc computer-readable storagemedia that may store instructions that implement at least portions ofthe various embodiments. In addition, the data structures and messagestructures may be stored or transmitted via a data transmission medium,e.g., a signal on a communications link. Various communications linksmay be used, e.g., the Internet, a local area network, a wide areanetwork, or a point-to-point dial-up connection. Thus, computer readablemedia may include computer-readable storage media (e.g.,“non-transitory, media) and computer-readable transmission media.

The instructions stored in memory 3110 may be implemented as softwareand/or firmware to program the processor(s) 3105 to carry out actionsdescribed above. In some embodiments, such software or firmware may beinitially provided to the processing system 3100 by downloading it froma remote system through the computing system 3100 (e.g., via networkadapter 3130).

The various embodiments introduced herein may be implemented by, forexample, programmable circuitry (e.g., one or more microprocessors)programmed with software and/or firmware, or entirely in special-purposehardwired (non-programmable) circuitry, or in a combination of suchforms. Special-purpose hardwired circuitry may be in the form of, forexample, one or more ASICs, PLDs, FPGAs, etc.

FIG. 32 is a block diagram illustrating an abstracted architecture ofthe system, according to an embodiment. In an embodiment, the system mayinclude a remote server for facilitating communication between a clientdomain and an email server (e.g., mail server). The client domain may beconfigured to execute one or more processes via a local processor (e.g.,the one or more processors 3105 of FIG. 31). For example, the clientapplication may receive notifications from an email manager and providechanges to the email manager. The email manager may store dataassociated with one or more emails in a local database. The emailmanager may receive tasks (“GET Tasks”) from a remote server andtransmit tasks (“POST Tasks”) to the remote server. The remote servermay communicate with a mail server by, for example, receiving and/ortransmitting tasks to the mail server.

FIG. 33 is a block diagram illustrating an abstracted architecture ofthe system, according to an embodiment. In an embodiment, the system mayinclude a client domain configured to communicate directly with an emailserver (e.g., mail server). The client domain may be configured toexecute one or more processes via a local processor (e.g., the one ormore processors 3105 of FIG. 31). For example, the local processor mayexecute instructions to perform a method for managing a task queue, asdescribed below with reference to FIG. 27. In another example, theclient application may receive notifications from an email manager andprovide changes to the email manager. The email manager may store dataassociated with one or more emails in a local database. The emailmanager may receive and/or transmit tasks (e.g., tasks having validauthorization) in a tasks queue via an email protocol engine to a mailserver.

FIG. 34 is a block diagram illustrating a method for managing a taskqueue, according to an embodiment. One or more tasks may be receivedfrom the email manager and maintained in a queue. A local processor(e.g., the one or more processors 3105 of FIG. 31) may run an operation(e.g., by executing instructions stored in a local database) anddetermine if valid authorization to perform the task is the queueexists. If valid authorization exists, a responsible subsystem may beidentified to perform and/or manage the task. For example, a responsiblesubsystem (e.g., a communication device) may be identified to transmit amessage via the email protocol engine to the mail server.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for managing email on a user devicecomprising: displaying a first plurality of email tiles in a firstvertical list on a screen of the user device, wherein the firstplurality of email tiles in the first vertical list are associated witha first time period; detecting a motion-based gesture from a user of theuser device, wherein the motion-based gesture includes at least one of atap on a surface of the screen, a swipe across the surface of thescreen, or an acceleration of the user device; and in response todetecting the motion-based gesture, displaying a second plurality ofemail tiles in a second vertical list associated with a second timeperiod.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: in response todetecting the motion-based gesture, displaying a visual effect ofhorizontally moving from the first vertical list to the second verticallist.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first time period isassociated with a first day and the second time period is associatedwith a second day.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the swipe isdetected to move from left to right across the surface of the screen,and wherein the second time period is earlier than the first timeperiod.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the swipe is detected to movefrom right to left across the surface of the screen, and wherein thesecond time period is later than the first time period.
 6. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the acceleration of the user device includes tiltingthe user device to the left, and wherein the second time period isearlier than the first time period.
 7. The method of claim 1, whereinthe acceleration of the user device includes tilting the user device tothe right, and wherein the second time period is later than the firsttime period.
 8. The method of claim 1, further comprising: displaying ahistogram associated with the plurality of received emails, where anX-axis of the histogram represents a time period, and a Y-axis of thehistogram represents a number of emails received.
 9. The method of claim8, wherein the swipe is detected to move from left to right across thesurface of the screen in a region associated with the histogram, andwherein the second time period is later than the first time period. 10.The method of claim 8, wherein the swipe is detected to move from rightto left across the surface of the screen, and wherein the second timeperiod is earlier than the first time period.
 11. The method of claim 8,wherein the tap is detected on a region of the histogram associated withthe second time period.
 12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:in response to detecting the user in contact with a region of the screenassociated with an email tile of the first or second plurality of emailtiles, determining that the email tile is selected.
 13. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising: in response to detecting the motion-basedgesture, displaying an icon in a corner of the screen, wherein the iconcomprises an image, text, or a combination thereof.
 14. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising: in response to detecting a lapse of contactof the user with the screen in a region of the screen, performing anemail management function associated with the region of the screen. 15.The method of claim 14, wherein the email management function comprises:deleting an email associated with the selected email tile; including theemail associated with the selected email tile in a folder; favoritingthe email associated with the selected email tile; labeling the emailassociated with the selected email tile; archiving the email associatedwith the selected email tile; adding the email associated with theselected email tile to a to-do list; marking the email associated withthe selected email tile as read; replying to the email associated withthe selected email tile; forwarding the email associated with theselected email tile; saving an attachment of the email associated withthe selected email tile; rearranging the plurality of email tiles; orany combination thereof.
 16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:in response to detecting a second motion-based gesture associated with acorner function, performing the corner function, wherein the cornerfunction includes: delete an email; include the email in a folder;favorite the email; label the email; archive the email; add the email toa to-do list; marking the email as read; replying to the email;forwarding the email; saving an attachment of the email; or anycombination thereof.
 17. The method of claim 1, further comprising: animage included in email tiles of the first and second plurality of emailtiles, wherein email tiles associated with a human sender include afirst type of image, and wherein email tiles associated withautomatically generated emails include a second type of image.
 18. Themethod of claim 17, wherein the second type of image represents a robotor a machine.
 19. The method of claim 1, further comprising: in responseto detecting a second motion-based gesture, displaying an animationshowing at least one email tile of the second plurality of email tilesassociated with automatically generated emails knocked out of the secondvertical list and fall down past the second vertical list such that theat least one email tile is no longer in view.
 20. The method of claim 1,wherein email tiles of the first and second plurality of email tilesassociated with automatically generated emails are not included in thefirst and second vertical list.
 21. The method of claim 1, wherein themotion-based gesture approximates a motion performed by extending a linefrom a fishing pole, and wherein the second time period is either of: anearliest time period on a horizontal timeline; or a most recent timeperiod on the horizontal timeline.
 22. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: detecting a second motion-based gesture, wherein the secondmotion-based gesture is associated with any of text, image, and documentof an email of the first or second plurality of email tiles; providing apreview of the any of text, image, and document of the email in responseto detecting the second motion-based gesture.
 23. A method for managingemail on a user device comprising: displaying a plurality of email tilesin a vertical list on a screen of the user device, wherein the pluralityof email tiles in the vertical list are associated with a time period;in response to detecting a user in contact with a region of the screenassociated with an email tile of the plurality of email tiles,determining that the email tile is selected; in response to detecting amotion-based gesture, displaying an icon in a corner of the screen; inresponse to detecting a lapse of contact of the user with the screen ina region of the screen, performing an email management functionassociated with the region.
 24. The method of claim 23, furthercomprising: in response to simultaneously detecting the user in contactwith another region of the screen associated with another email tile ofthe plurality of email tiles, determining that the another email tile isalso selected, wherein the email management function associated with theregion is performed with respect to an email associated with the emailtile and another email associated with the another email tile.
 25. Themethod of claim 23, wherein the lapse of contact is detected in thecorner of the screen, and wherein the email management function isassociated with the icon displayed in the corner of the screen.
 26. Themethod of claim 23, wherein the lapse of contact is detected between afirst email tile of the plurality of email tiles and a second email tileof the plurality of email tiles, and wherein the email managementfunction is arranging the plurality of email tiles such that theselected email tile is between the first email tile and the second emailtile.
 27. The method of claim 23, wherein the email management functioncomprises: deleting an email associated with the selected email tile;including the email associated with the selected email tile in a folder;favoriting the email associated with the selected email tile; labelingthe email associated with the selected email tile; archiving the emailassociated with the selected email tile; adding the email associatedwith the selected email tile to a to-do list; marking the emailassociated with the selected email tile as read; replying to the emailassociated with the selected email tile; forwarding the email associatedwith the selected email tile; saving an attachment of the emailassociated with the selected email tile; rearranging the plurality ofemail tiles; or any combination thereof.
 28. The method of claim 23,wherein the email management function includes providing a dropdown listof email management functions for assignment to the region.
 29. Themethod of claim 23, further comprising: receiving an input indicating anemail management function of the dropdown list of email managementfunctions; and assigning the selected email management function to theregion.
 30. The method of claim 23, further comprising: receiving aninput for an undo feature, wherein the input includes any of a contactwith an undo icon or a motion-based gesture; reversing an actionperformed by the email management function.
 31. A method for managingemail on a user device comprising: displaying a plurality of email tilesin a vertical list on a screen of the user device, wherein the pluralityof email tiles in the vertical list are associated with a time period;in response to detecting a user input associated with a region of thescreen including an email tile of the plurality of email tiles,determining that the email tile is selected; in response to detecting amotion-based gesture, performing an email management function.
 32. Themethod of claim 31, wherein the motion-based gesture is an upward tiltof the user device, and wherein the email management function is movingthe email tile of the plurality of email tiles to a top position amongthe plurality of email tiles.
 33. The method of claim 31, furthercomprising: determining that the plurality of email tiles in thevertical list are selected; wherein the motion based gesture includes aswipe across the screen or a tilting of the user device, and wherein theemail management function includes positioning the plurality of emailtiles in a second vertical list including a second plurality of emailtiles.
 34. A method for managing email on a user device comprising:displaying a plurality of email tiles in a vertical list on a screen ofthe user device, wherein the plurality of email tiles in the verticallist are associated with a time period; in response to detecting a firstuser input associated with a region of the screen associated with aplurality of email contacts, displaying the plurality of email contacts;and in response to detecting a second user input associated with asecond region of the screen associated with an email contact of theplurality of email contacts, performing an email management function.35. The method of claim 34, wherein the email management functionincludes displaying a second plurality of email tiles in a secondvertical list, the second plurality of email tiles being associated withthe email contact of the plurality of email contacts.
 36. The method ofclaim 34, wherein the email management function includes displaying oneor more attachments from one or more emails associated with the emailcontact of the plurality of email contacts.
 37. The method of claim 34,wherein the plurality of email contacts are displayed in a plurality oficons positioned along an upper portion of the screen, the plurality oficons including images associated with the plurality of email contacts.38. A method for managing email on a user device comprising: displayinga plurality of email tiles in a vertical list on a screen of the userdevice, wherein the plurality of email tiles in the vertical list areassociated with a time period; in response to detecting a user inputassociated with a region of the screen including an email tile of theplurality of email tiles, determining that the email tile is selected;displaying a content of an email associated with the selected emailtile; and in response to detecting a motion-based gesture, performing anemail management function.
 39. The method of claim 38, wherein themotion-based gesture includes tilting the user device, and wherein theemail management function includes displaying another content of anotheremail associated with the plurality of email tiles.
 40. The method ofclaim 38, wherein the motion-based gesture includes a swipe across atouchscreen of the user device, and wherein the email managementfunction includes identifying a character associated with the swipeacross the touchscreen and displaying the character.
 41. The method ofclaim 38, wherein the content of the email includes an image comprisingdetectable text, and wherein the email management function includesutilizing optical character recognition to convert the image into text.42. The method of claim 38, further comprising: displaying contactinformation appearing in a popup, wherein the contact informationincludes any of a telephone number, email address, or social media link;receiving an input associated with the contact information; andactivating a communication function of the user device to connect theuser device to another user device by utilizing the contact information.43. A system for managing email on a user device comprising: atouchscreen for presenting information to a user and detecting a pointon the touchscreen contacted by the user; a motion detecting device fordetecting motion of the user device; one or more processors configuredto: generate a first plurality of email tiles in a first vertical listfor display on the touchscreen, wherein the first plurality of emailtiles in the first vertical list are associated with a first timeperiod; receive, by either of the touchscreen or the motion detectingdevice, data associated with motion-based gestures from the user of theuser device, wherein the motion-based gestures includes at least one ofcontact with the touchscreen, lapse of contact with the touchscreen, oran acceleration of the user device; generate another plurality of emailtiles in another vertical list for display on the touchscreen, whereinthe another plurality of email tiles is transmitted to the touchscreenfor display in response to receiving a first motion-based gesture fromthe user; and generate an icon associated with an email managementfunction for display in a corner of the touchscreen, wherein the emailmanagement function is performed in response to receiving a secondmotion-based gesture in the corner of the touchscreen.
 44. The system ofclaim 43, wherein the email management function comprises: deleting anemail associated with the selected email tile; including the emailassociated with the selected email tile in a folder; favoriting theemail associated with the selected email tile; labeling the emailassociated with the selected email tile; archiving the email associatedwith the selected email tile; adding the email associated with theselected email tile to a to-do list; marking the email associated withthe selected email tile as read; replying to the email associated withthe selected email tile; forwarding the email associated with theselected email tile; saving an attachment of the email associated withthe selected email tile; rearranging the plurality of email tiles; orany combination thereof.
 45. The system of claim 43, wherein the motiondetecting device includes: an accelerometer; a gyroscope; a camera; acompass; a global positioning system device; a plurality of motionsensors; or any combination thereof.
 46. The system of claim 43, furthercomprising: in response to receiving a third motion-based gesture,displaying an animation of a keyboard entering or exiting a lowerportion of the touchscreen.
 47. The system of claim 43, furthercomprising: in response to receiving a third motion-based gesture,including an annotation on an image or document of an emailcorresponding to the received third motion-based gesture.
 48. The systemof claim 43, further comprising: in response to receiving a thirdmotion-based gesture, reassigning a position of a favorite user of aplurality of favorite users.